Florida Reels From Tropical Storm

Haitian Death Toll Rises To 75

November 15, 1994|By Knight-Ridder/Tribune.

MIAMI — Tropical Storm Gordon, a late bloomer, loitered Monday over south and central Florida like a bad mood. Its swirling squalls flooded streets, shredded power lines, eroded beaches and closed many schools. But it did not claim any lives in Florida.

However, as Gordon meandered through the Caribbean over the weekend, it spawned landslides and floods that killed at least 75 people in Haiti. Major damage was reported in Cuba, Bahamas, Dominican Republic and Jamaica.

Nothing like that was expected in Florida, but as it crossed near the Keys and lurched into the Gulf of Mexico, Gordon was expected to batter the region anew Tuesday with punishing seas and sustained winds of 45 m.p.h.

"I've never seen anything like this," said Mike Hannigan, 50, of Indianapolis, who traveled to Palm Beach for the sun and surf. He got no sun but plenty of surf. "I once saw a painting of waves like this, but never in person."